Hundreds of thousands of train passengers in the Netherlands will soon see the cost of their off-peak travel subscription more than double. The national rail operator, NS, has alerted passengers that its heavily discounted summer promotion is coming to an end.
During the summer, travelers were able to buy a temporary off-peak pass called Nederland Dal Vrij Trein for €49 per month. The deal was backed by a government subsidy to encourage public transport use outside rush hours, but those promotional terms are now expiring.
Prices jumping past €120 a month
Once the summer discount period finishes, active subscriptions automatically convert into the standard NS Flex Dal Vrij plan. That regular product costs €127.95 per month, representing a steep increase for commuters who rely on off-peak travel.
The timing of the price jump depends on when passengers originally bought their pass. Those who purchased early on June 15 will see the new €127.95 rate kick in on August 15.
Passengers who signed up after July 1 have already been transitioned to the higher tier, as they were not eligible for a second discounted month.
Over 300,000 subscriptions still active
The low-cost initiative proved popular over the summer months. Nearly 400,000 people took advantage of the €49 pass, clocking up roughly 329 million kilometers across the national rail network.
NS reported that more than 300,000 of these subscriptions are still active, meaning a large number of commuters could face higher automatic charges if they do not adjust their accounts.
The operator is encouraging travelers to check their travel patterns and switch to a different pass option if the standard rate does not make sense for them.
The price shift comes at a sensitive time for transport budgets, following news that the government is already considering cuts to major transit projects across the country. Passengers can modify or cancel their NS subscriptions online before their next billing date to avoid the higher price tag.
